Illuminated nail trimmer unit

ABSTRACT

An illuminated nail trimmer unit includes a handgrip formed to include a top shell and bottom shell, a clipper including a nail clutter and a nail cutter actuator that may be positioned either in a storage position or an operative position, and a light source.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/036,633, filed Mar. 14, 2008, whichis expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to nail clippers. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to nail clippers with lights.

SUMMARY

An illuminated nail trimmer unit in accordance with the presentdisclosure includes a handgrip, a clipper, an illumination controller,and a light source. The clipper includes a nail cutter and a nail cutteractuator.

In Illustrative embodiments, the clipper actuator may be positionedeither in a storage position or an operative position. When the clipperactuator is positioned in the operative position, the illuminationcontroller is operated to turn on the light source. When the actuator ispositioned in the storage position, the illumination controller isoperated to turn off the light source. Thus, the nail trimmer unitprovides an illuminated light source to aid a user when the useroperates the clipper with a single hand.

In illustrative embodiments, the illumination controller includes aspring-biased button positioned in the handgrip such that, when theclipper actuator is positioned in the storage position, the button isdepressed to maintain the light source off. When the clipper actuator ispositioned otherwise, the button is released thereby turning on thelight source.

In illustrative embodiments, the handgrip includes a top shell andbottom shell, which both have a rigid frame covered at least partiallyby a soft skin.

In illustrative embodiments, the illumination controller includes anopen biased switch having a movable contact, a stationary contact, and acontact spring section. When the clipper actuator is in a storageposition, pressure is applied to the contact spring section, causing themovable contact to be out of contact with the stationary contact andturn off the light source. When the clipper actuator is not in thestorage position, the contact spring section causes the movable contactto be in contact with the stationary contact and thereby operates theillumination controller to cause the light source to turn on.

In illustrative embodiments, the illumination controller also includescircuitry that enables the light source to turn off after a period oftime, even though the clipper actuator is not in a storage position, toensure that a battery included in the illuminated nail trimmer unit isnot accidentally drained of power by leaving the clipper actuator in anoperative position.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodimentsexemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presentlyperceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an illuminated nail trimmer includinga handgrip formed to include a top shell and bottom shell, a clippercoupled to the handgrip and in a storage position, and showing inphantom a light source and an illumination controller including aswitch, battery, and circuit for activation of the light source;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an illuminated nail trimmer includinga handgrip formed to include a top shell and bottom shell, a clippercoupled to the handgrip and in an operative position, and showing inphantom a light source and an illumination controller including aswitch, battery, and circuit for activation of the light source;

FIG. 3 is a top elevation view of the illuminated nail trimmer of FIG. 1or 2 showing the top shell and the top of the clipper and showing thatthe light source includes light bulbs positioned to lie on either sideof the clipper;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the illuminated nail trimmer of FIG.2 showing the front of the top shell, bottom shell, clipper formed toinclude an upper jaw and lower jaw, and light bulbs positioned to lie inproximity to the upper and lower jaws;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the illuminated nail trimmer of FIG.2 showing that the top shell and bottom shell cooperate to form across-shaped access opening;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the illuminated nail trimmer of FIG. 2showing the light source activated prior to the user using the clipper;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the illuminated nail trimmer of FIG. 2showing the light source activated during the user using the clipper;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the illuminated nailtrimmer of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing that a switch included in theillumination controller includes a stationary contact and a movablecontact and also suggesting placement of the clipper, switch, circuit,and light source in the interior region of the handgrip; and

FIG. 9 is an example of one potential circuit configuration that may beincluded in the illumination controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illuminated nail trimmer unit 10 includes a handgrip 12, a clipper 14coupled to handgrip 12, a light source 16, and an illuminationcontroller 18 associated with handgrip 12 and light source 16 assuggested somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 1 and illustratively in FIG.9. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a spring biased button 21 is provided in anaperture 20 (see FIG. 3) included in the handgrip 12; when the springbiased button 21 is in its biased position (i.e., protruding from thehandgrip 12), a switch (explained in detail with reference to FIG. 9) isoperated to energize light source 16 to generate light 24 and shinelight 24 on fingers of a child or other person before nails on thosefingers are trimmed using clipper 14 as suggested in FIGS. 6-7.

Handgrip 12 includes a top shell 26, a bottom shell 28 and side panels27, 29 (illustrated in FIG. 8). Top and bottom shells 26 mate to form aninterior region containing illumination controller 18 and a portion ofclipper 14.

As suggested in FIG. 5, clipper 14 includes a nail cutter 31 and acutter squeezer 38. Nail cutter 31 includes a lower stationary member 32including a bottom plate 33 and a bottom jaw 34 and an upper movablemember 35 including a top plate 36 and a top jaw 37. Cutter squeezer 38is configured to squeeze nail cutter 31 by, for example, urging movablemember 35 (illustrated in FIG. 8) downwardly toward stationary member 32to move top and bottom jaws 37, 34 relative to one another to a closednail-trimming position shown, for example, in FIG. 7. Each of top andbottom jaws 37, 34 includes a curved cutting edge 39 as shown in FIG. 3.

In an illustrative embodiment, cutter squeezer 38 includes an uprightpost 40 and a pivotable actuator 42 as shown in FIG. 3. Upright post 40is rooted to bottom plate 33 and arranged to extend upwardly through anaperture 45 formed in bottom plate 33 and an aperture 41 formed in topplate 36.

In use, the clipper actuator 42 is always moved out of a storageposition (illustrated in FIG. 2) by a user to cause illuminationcontroller 18 to energize light source 16 to shine light 24 towardfingernails to be trimmed before the actuator 42 is moved to causemovement of top and bottom jaws 37, 34 to the closed nail-trimmingposition. Thus, it should be understood that actuator 42 is a pivotableactuator that can be pivoted about the upright post 40 and lifted androtated so as to be inverted and in a position for operation of theactuator 42 in cooperation with the nail cutter 31.

When the actuator 42 is in the storage position, actuator 42 ispositioned to depress a spring biased button 21 protruding from anaperture 20 in the handgrip 12. While the spring biased button 21 isdepressed, the illumination controller 18 circuitry (described in detailwith reference to FIG. 9) controls the light source to be turned off.When the clipper actuator is not in the storage position, theillumination controller 18 controls the light source to turn on.

Actuator 42 can be moved downwardly, as suggested in FIG. 7, in responseto downward application of thumb pressure 101 to actuator 42 by a userto cause top and bottom jaws 37, 34 to move toward one another to theclosed nail-trimming position. However operation of actuator 42 in thismanner does not interfere with the spring biased button 21. Thus, light24 always shines on fingernails when they are being trimmed by clipper14 when using illuminated nail trimmer unit 10.

Light source 16 is turned off automatically once the user places theactuator 42 in the storage position as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Light source 16 is coupled to the top shell 26 and/or the bottom shell28 and arranged to lie near the top and bottom jaws 37, 34 of clipper 14as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 4. In an illustrative embodiment, lightsource 16 includes a first light bulb 51 located on one side of top jaw37 and a second light bulb 52 located on an opposite side of top jaw 37as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 3. Both light bulbs 51, 52 are coupled toillumination controller 18 as shown, for example, in FIG. 5. These lightbulbs 51, 52 may be implemented as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

Illumination controller 18 includes a battery 54, a circuit 56, and anopen-biased switch 58 associated with spring biased button 21 assuggested in FIGS. 2 and 6. In an illustrative embodiment, theopen-biased switch includes a stationary contact and a movable contact.Thus, switch 58 may include a stationary contact and a movable contactnormally separated from the stationary contact wherein the movablecontact is arranged to be moved upwardly to engage stationary contact toclose the open-biased switch 58 when the spring biased button 21 is inthe biased position (i.e., protruding from the handgrip 12) so as tocause the battery 54 and circuit 56 to cooperate to energize lightsource 16 and generate light 24. When the spring biased button 21 isdepressed by the actuator 42 (i.e., in the storage position), thestationary and movable contacts of the open-biased switch 58 areseparated. Thus, the open-biased switch 58 is open so as to disablecooperation of the battery 54 and the circuit 56 and turn off the lightsource 16.

In an illustrative embodiment, top shell 26 of handgrip 12 includes aninterior rigid upper frame 64 and an exterior soft upper skin 65overmolded or otherwise mounted onto an exterior surface of rigid upperframe 64. A rearward portion 66 of rigid upper frame 64 mates withbattery compartment 154 as suggested in FIG. 8. A forward portion 68 ofrigid upper frame 64 and a forward portion of soft upper skin 65 matewith top plate 36 of clipper 14 when clipper 14 is mounted in aninterior region of handgrip 12 as suggested, for example, in FIG. 8. Anintermediate portion 67 of rigid upper frame 64 is arranged tointerconnect rearward and forward portions 66, 68 of rigid upper frame64 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 8.

In an illustrative embodiment, bottom shell 28 of handgrip 12 includesan interior rigid lower frame 74 and an exterior soft lower skin 75overmolded or otherwise mounted onto an exterior surface of rigid lowerframe 74. A rearward portion 76 of rigid lower frame 74 mates withbattery compartment 154 as suggested in FIG. 8. A forward portion 78 ofrigid lower frame 74 is arranged to underlie and mate with and supportbottom plate 33 of clipper 14 as shown in FIG. 7.

A central aperture 72 is formed in intermediate portion 70 of rigidlower frame 74 of bottom shell 28 of handgrip 12 as shown best in FIG.8. The central aperture 72 may include a female threaded interior thatis mateable with screw 71 of the clipper 14 so as to secure the clipper14 to the bottom shell 28, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8.

An exterior surface 82 of soft lower skin portion 75 has a textured gripsurface 83 formed to include raised laterally extending ribs 84 asshown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. In an illustrative embodiment,soft lower skin 76 is made of a plastics material.

As suggested in FIGS. 2-4 and 8, pivotable actuator 42 of clipper 14includes a pivot lever 130 coupled to an upright post 40 and a thumb pad132 coupled to a distal end 134 of pivot lever 130. Thumb pad 132 ismade of a textured rubber or plastics material molded or fitted over anouter end of pivot lever 130 in the illustrated embodiment.

Pivot lever 130 can be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction inresponse to application of pressure 101 to thumb pad 132 to move topplate 36 toward bottom plate 33 to move jaws 37, 34 toward one anotherto assume the closed nail-trimming position.

A user operates cutter squeezer 38 of clipper 14 as suggested in FIG. 7to move top and bottom jaws 37, 34 to assume the nail-trimming closedposition. Light source 16 has already been energized to generate light24 based on the positioning of the actuator 42 in an operative positionbefore the user operates cutter squeezer 38 of clipper 14.

With light source 16 on, a user can now see the fingernails of a child.Next, the user positions handgrip 12 so that the child's nail is betweenupper jaw 37 and lower jaw 34 of nail cutter 31. The user then appliesstrong thumb pressure 101 in a downward direction onto actuator 42 asshown, for example, in FIG. 7.

As suggested in FIG. 7, the user applies downward pressure 101 to thumbpad 132 so as to cause pivot lever 130 to pivot about the pivot axisorthogonal to the upright post 40 and, in turn, apply a downward forceto top plate 36 and an opposite upward force to cause bottom plate 33 tomove upwardly toward top plate 36. The downward force applied to topplate 36 of nail cutter 31 and the upward force applied to bottom plate33 is transferred to top and bottom jaws 37, 34, causing them to movetoward one another to assume the closed nail-trimming position. Oncepressure 101 is no longer applied to thumb pad 132, then top and bottomplates 36, 33 spring apart to resume their original positions shown, forexample, in FIG. 6.

Battery 54 is sandwiched between rigid lower frame 74 and rigid upperframe 16 and arranged to rest in battery compartment 154 in an interiorspace formed in rigid lower frame 74 as suggested in FIG. 7.

Although the circuit 56 included in the illumination controller 18 maybe configured in any number of ways, FIG. 9 illustrates one example ofcircuitry that may be used to provide the functionality of theillumination controller 18. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the circuit 56 mayinclude a pair of LEDs 905, 910 (which correspond to the light source 16illustrated in other figures). Additionally, the circuit 56 may includea plurality of resistance elements 920-940 provided in combination witha battery 945 (corresponding to battery 54 illustrated in otherfigures), capacitor 950, switch 955 and a plurality of diodes ortransistors 960, 965. The resistance elements 920-940 may be provided tobalance the circuit 56 based on operation of the LEDs 905-910 andcharging of the capacitor 950 (explained herein).

The switch 955 is coupled to, actuated by the button 21 illustrated inFIG. 2. Thus, as explained above, when the nail actuator 42 is in astorage position, the button 21 is depressed, thereby eliminating powerto the LEDs 905, 910 provided by battery 945. However, when the button21 is released and allowed to return to its spring-biased state ofprotruding from the handgrip 12, the switch 955 is operated to providepower to the LEDs 905, 910.

In the circuit configuration illustrated in FIG. 9, the power isprovided via capacitor 950 which is charged by the battery 945 and, whenfully charged, turns on diodes 960, 965. This operation of diodes 960,965 then alters the circuit configuration such that the capacitor 950provides power to the LEDs 905, 910 until power dissipates to anunusable level in the capacitor 950. This configuration provides anautomatic shut off feature that enables the light source 16 (i.e., 905,910 in FIG. 9) to be turned off after a period of time, e.g., fourminutes, even though the clipper actuator is not in a storage position.This automatic shut off feature may ensure that the battery included inthe illuminated nail trimmer unit is not accidentally drained of powerby leaving the clipper actuator in an operative position.

An additional optional feature is shown best in FIG. 5 and provides across-shaped opening 156 is positioned at the rear of the handgrip 12.Opening 138 is defined by a slot provided between the top shell 30 andbottom shell 32 to provide an aperture for inserting an emery board soas to use the handgrip 12 as an emery board holder and improve ease ofuse of emery boards.

1. An illuminated nail trimmer unit comprising a handgrip formed toinclude a top shell and bottom shell, a clipper including a nail clutterand a nail cutter actuator that may be positioned either in a storageposition or an operative position, a light source, and means forcontrolling illumination by the light source when the nail cutteractuator is positioned in the operative position, and wherein the nailtrimmer unit provides an illuminated light source to aid a user when theuser operates the clipper with a single hand.
 2. The illuminated nailtrimmer unit of claim 1, wherein, when the nail cutter actuator ispositioned in the storage position, the means for controllingillumination is operated to turn off the light source.
 3. Theilluminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the means forcontrolling illumination includes a spring-biased button positioned inthe handgrip such that, when the nail cutter actuator is positioned inthe storage position, the button is depressed to maintain the lightsource off and when the nail cutter actuator is positioned otherwise,the button is released thereby turning on the light source.
 4. Theilluminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein both the top shell andbottom shell of the handgrip both have a rigid frame covered at leastpartially by a soft skin.
 5. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim1, wherein the means for controlling illumination includes a battery andcircuit for activation of the light source.
 6. The illuminated nailtrimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling illuminationincludes an open-biased switch having a movable contact, a stationarycontact, and a contact spring section.
 7. The illuminated nail trimmerunit of claim 6, wherein, when the nail cutter actuator is in thestorage position, pressure applied to the contact spring section causesthe movable contact to be out of contact with the stationary contact andturn off the light source.
 8. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim6, wherein, when the nail cutter actuator is not in the storageposition, the contact spring section causes the movable contact to be incontact with the stationary contact, which operates the means forcontrolling illumination to cause the light source to turn on.
 9. Theilluminated nail trimmer of claim 1, wherein the means for controllingillumination includes a switch and a spring-biased button provided in anaperture included in the handgrip.
 10. The illuminated nail trimmer unitof claim 9, wherein, when the spring-biased button is in a biasedposition, a switch is operated to energize the light source.
 11. Theilluminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the means forcontrolling illumination includes circuitry that enables the lightsource to turn off after a period of time, even though the nail cutteractuator is not in the storage position.
 12. The illuminated nailtrimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the light source includes light bulbspositioned to lie on either side of the clipper.
 13. The illuminatednail trimmer unit of claim 12, wherein the light bulbs are LightEmitting Diodes.
 14. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1,wherein nail cutter includes an upper jaw and lower jaw and the lightsource includes light bulbs positioned to lie in proximity to the upperand lower jaws.
 15. The illuminated nail trimmer of claim 1, wherein thetop shell and bottom shell cooperate to form a cross-shaped accessopening positioned at a rear of the handgrip.
 16. An illuminated nailtrimmer unit comprising a clipper including a nail cutter actuator thatmay be positioned either in a storage position or an operative position,a light source, and an illumination controller configured to causeillumination by the light source when the nail cutter actuator ispositioned in the operative position.
 17. The illuminated nail trimmerunit of claim 16, wherein the controller includes a spring-biased buttonpositioned in a handgrip of the unit such that, when the nail cutteractuator is positioned in the storage position, the button is depressedto maintain the light source off and when the nail cutter actuator ispositioned otherwise, the button is released thereby turning on thelight source.
 18. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 16, whereinthe controller includes an open-biased switch having a movable contact,a stationary contact, and a contact spring section.
 19. The illuminatednail trimmer unit of claim 18, wherein, when the nail cutter actuator isin the storage position, pressure applied to the contact spring sectioncauses the movable contact to be out of contact with the stationarycontact and turn off the light source.
 20. The illuminated nail trimmerunit of claim 18, wherein, when the nail cutter actuator is not in thestorage position, the contact spring section causes the movable contactto be in contact with the stationary contact, which operates the meansfor controlling illumination to cause the light source to turn on.